- Ardea melanocephala
Identification
L. 84-92 cm
- Dark bill
- Black legs and feet
- Black neck
Similar Species
Similar in size and general appearance to the Grey Heron, which has a yellowish-orange bill and pinkish legs.
Flight
Photo by Ralph Timmermann
Leeuwdril Waterhole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana, November 2011
The underwings of the Grey Heron are entirely grey whereas those of the Black-headed Heron have a thick black trailing edge.
Distribution
Africa. Widespread and common from Senegal east to Somalia and south to South Africa. Largely resident but migratory in parts of range, probably in response to rains.
Vagrancy is rare but there are old and unsubstantiated reports from Algeria, Spain, France and Italy. In November 1971 one was reported from the Camargue in southern France but this too, is unconfirmed. More recently an immature was recorded in October-December 1987 in the Eilat-Aqaba area. Also reported in southern Egypt.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Grasslands and fallow fields. Often seen in rank vegetation near lakes and marshes but, unlike the Grey Heron, seldom seen at water.
Behaviour
Breeding
A wet-season, colonial-breeder. The bulky stick nests are in trees, reedbeds or cliffs. The normal clutch size is 2-4 eggs.
Diet
Fish, frogs, large insects, small mammals and birds.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black-headed Heron. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-headed_Heron
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
